Mail-box, &amp;c.



No. 777,970. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. M. B. & H. S. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, &0.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, 1903. N0 MODEL 12 snnms-snnm 1.

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M. B. &' H. S. MILLS.

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PATENTED DEC. 20', 1904. M. B. & H. s. MILLS.

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PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

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No. 777,970. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904, M. B. & H. S. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, 6w. APPLICATION FILED MAR. s, 1903 12 SEEETS-SHEET 5.

NO MODEL.

' lm /enianfx h I 7 I ga will No. 777,970. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

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MAIL BOX, 820.

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No. 777,970. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904. M. B. & H. S. MILLS.

MAIL BOX, &0. APPLICATION FILED MAR. a, 1903.

N0 MODEL. 12 BHEETBBHEET 11.

No. 777.970. PATENTED DEC. 20, 1904.

M. B. & H. S. MILLS. MAIL BOX, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED HAZE. 3,,1903.

N0 MODEL. 12 SHEETS-SHEET 12.

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UNITED STATES Patented December 20, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

MORTIMER B. MILLS AND HERBERT S. HILLS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS ASSIGNORSTO MILLS SPECIAL DELIVERY MAIL BOX COMPANY OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 777,970, dated December20, 1904:.

' ApplicatioiifileiMarch s, 1903. Serial No. 145,895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, MORTIMER B. MILLs and HERBERT S. MILLs, citizens ofthe United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Stateof Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Mail-Boxes,&c., of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates particularly to mailboxes for use in connectionwith special-delivery mail, although it will be understood the inventionmay be put to other purposes.

Our primary object is to provide mail-boxes equipped withcoin-controlled mechanism controlling the introduction of letters andpackages thereinto and the marking of the same, these mailboxes to beplaced at points convenient of access by the public and collections tobe made therefrom at frequent intervals, the mail thus collected to goas special-delivery mail.

The invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represents a broken front viewof .a mail-box equipped with our improvements;

Fig. 2, a broken plan view of the same: ,Fig. 3, a rear view of themachine with the rear side removed; Fig. 4, a vertical sectionperpendicular to the front of the machine, the section being taken asindicated at line 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5, an enlarged broken section takenas indicated at line 5 of Fig. 8; Fig. 6, a view similar to Fig. 5, butshowinga different position of the parts; Fig. 7, a vertical sectiontaken as indicated at line 7 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8, an enlarged sectiontaken as indicated at line 8 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9, a section similar toFig. 8, but showing a different position of the parts; Fig. 10, anotherview similar to Fig. 8, but showing still another position of the parts;Fig. 11, a section taken as indicated at line 11 of Fig. 3; Fig. 12, anenlarged broken section similar to Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a section taken asindicated at line 13 of Fig. 12; Fig. 14, an enlarged broken section atthe coin-chute, the section being taken as indicated at line 14 of Fig.3; Fig. 15, a section similar to Fig. 14:, but showing a differentposition of the parts;

Fig. 16, a broken section taken as indicated at line 16 of Fig. 14, andFig. 17 a perspective view of a coin-receptacle employed.

The preferred construction is as follows: A represents a casing ormail-box having a front side A, a rear side A and lateral sides A A; A,a door connected by a pivot a with the lower portion of the front of thecasing and equipped on its inner surface at its vertical edges withsector-shaped flanges a, said door serving as means whereat the mail maybe removed; A, a combination letter-chute and closure for the mail-box,connected at its lower portion by a pivot c with the front of the casingand equipped on its inner surface at its vertical edges withsector-shaped flanges c a;

A a plate or member forming a portion of the letter-chute and connectedby pivots a with the flanges a (0*,- A a printing or numbering deviceconnected by pivots a with the rear surface of the member A A", a hoodwith which the casing-front is equipped and beneath which theletter-chute may be swung; B, coin-controlled mechanism controlling theintroduction and stamping of letters and including an introductory slotor coin-passage B, a rotatable coin-actuated member B firmly connectedwith a shaft B a combination pinion and coin-actuating member 13*,journaled on the shaft B vertically-reciprocable rack B havingpin-and-slot connection with the flange c of the letter-chute A, bywhich it is actuated, a cam-wheel B, fixed to the shaft B and providedwith two wings or arms 5, a vertically-reciproeable letter-chute-lockingbolt B equipped with a roller B a pivoted arm B, with which the plungeror bolt B has pivotal connection, and a coin-chute B B a coin-receptacleremovably connected with the door A; C, a cyclometer or counting deviceof usual construction connected with the upper portion of the casing andactuated from the pivoted member B"; C, the shaft of the cyclometerequipped with an actuating-arm C connected by a link C and a stud C*with the member B and D a lever connected by a pivot 0 with the front ofthe casing at the inner side thereof and actuated by cams D D,

carried, respectively, by the doors A A, said lever having at its upperend a lateral projection D serving as an indicator, which may be viewedthrough an opening D to indicate whether or not a letter has beenintroduced into the box.

The casing may be constructed of any suitable material. We have shownthe front of .the casing constructed of sheet metal; but in practice itprobably will be of cast metal. The casing-front is cut away to receivethe cyclometer and certain portions of the coin-controlled mechanism,and the perforations thereby produced are covered by enlargements (Z CZ.The pivoted letter-chute A is provided at its outer surface with ahandle cl 2 for convenience in opening. The flange a of the letter-chuteis provided at the front portion of its curved upper edge with a recess(Z receiving the lower end of the locking-bolt B The central portion ofthe flange a is provided with a cam-groove having an upwardly andrearwardly extending portion d", beginning near the front vertical edgeof the flange, and a circular portion 61 struck on a radius from thecenter (0 upon which the letter-chute swings. In this cam-groove works apin d, which projects laterally from the lower portion of therack-equipped member B The flange (0* of the letter-chute A is equippedat its curved upper edge with ratchet-teeth d, which end some distancefrom the front of the casing, the flange being recessed to provide asmooth depressed surface d8 at its front upper portion, Fig.7. Pivotedon a lug CZ, projecting rearwardly from the inner surface of the upperportion of the casing, is a pawl (Z10, which coacts with theratchet-teeth 0Z A spring (Z connects the upper end of the pawl with alug 0P onthe inner surface of the casing-front.

During the operation of introducing a letter into the box after theinsertion of the proper coin, usually a dime, the member A of theletter-chute is preparatorily pressed forwardly to close the lowerportion of the letter-chute before the upper end of the chute passesfrom beneath the hood A, and during the rearward movement of theletter-chute after the introduction of a letter thereinto theprinting-wheel is preparatorily rotated, and the printing device isthereupon swung forwardly to cause an impression upon the letter.Thereafter the member A and the printing device are released and theletters permitted to drop into the box. As shown, the member A ispivotally supported at its upper end, and its vertical edges movepractically in contact with the inner or adjacent surface of the flangesa a. The lower end of the member is curved forward, as shown at f, andthis provides a bottom for the letter-chute when the member A is pressedforward. As thus described, a passage f is provided for receivingletters or packages, and this passage is open at its upper end, as shownat f except when closed by the hood A". Also, as shown in Fig. 11, whenthe member A is free to hang vertically a passage f is afforded at thelower end of the letter-chute for the escape of the letters into thebox. The flange (0* of the letter-chute is provided at its lower portionwith a bracket g, in which and the flange itself is journaled arock-shaft g. The shaft g is equipped at its outer end with anactuating-arm g having a cam-shaped extremity engaging a fixedeam g onthe inner surface of the casing-front. A member 9, connected with thecam g servesas a guide and stop for the arm 9 Adjacent to the innersurface of the flange a the shaft g is equipped with an arm g having asectorshaped extremity adapted to engage the rear surface of the memberA The inner end of the shaft g is equipped with an arm 9 which serves inthe rotation of the printing-wheel.

The printing mechanism A comprises a triangular frame member h,pivotally supported at its upper front corner, as indicated, Figs. 12and 13; a vertically-slidable member it, having slots b receiving studsit", with which the frame h is equipped; a loop 76* at the lower cornerof the frame it; a printing-wheel 7L", having a shaft it journaledin themembers of said loop and equipped with a ratchetwheel if; aretaining-pawl 7L connected by a pivot It with the rearwardly andupwardly inclined member of the frame lb, an actuatingpawl [2 connectedby pivots b with the lower end of the slide it; a spring h connectedwith both said pawls and serving to hold them in engagement with saidratchetwheel if; a stud h on the lower portion of the slide it, workingin a slot it, Figs. 10 and 13, with which the vertical member of theframe it is provided; a bracket Fig. 8, projecting rearwardly from themember a and provided with an upturned portion h serving as a stop,engaging the stud h and limiting the rearward swing of the frame 72,; arearwardly-extending member or standard it, having a hooked rear endconnected by the spring 71, with the stud it; a spring 71 connected withthe stud h and a stud if", projecting laterally from the loop h of theframe 7i, and an inking-roller 7L journaled in the loop if andcontacting with the printingwheel.

At the rear upper corner of the frame it is secured, by means of a pivotlo, a member 7:", having a cam shaped upper end if and a weighted lowerend Projecting laterally from the frame 71/ is a stud 7c, against whichone edge of the member 7a bears at a short distance below its pivot.Projecting rearwardly from the casing-front above the path of the member70 is a spring k bearing at its extremity a depending lug k, located inthe path of the upper end of the member 7:. In the forward movement ofthe letter-chute. the member 70 swings idly and in the rearward movementis operatively engaged by the member k, thereby depressing the frame itand moving the printing-wheel into contact with the letter indicated byZ, Fig. 10. The member A is provided with a perforation Z for permittingthe printing-wheel to approach the letter.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 14 to 16, inclusive, the shaft B is suitablyjournaled in bearings 722, connected with the casing-front, and thecoin-actuated and coin-carrying member B is firmly fixed to the shaft.As shown, the member B has two diametrically opposite wings providedwith coin-recesses m. The member B comprises a half-cylinder with endsequipped with bearings m journaled on the sh aft B, one of whichbearings has formed integrally therewith a pinion m, meshing with therack B The member B, Fig. 5, is firmly fixed to the shaft B and theWings 6 thereof have suitably-rounded edges for working readily beneaththe roller B and raising the locking-bolt B A spring of, Fig. 3,connected with the stud O and a stationary part, serves normally to holdthe locking-bolt depressed. When a coin, as m, is dropped in at thechute B, it serves to lock the member B to the member B, so that whenthe member B is rotated through the medium of the rack B the member B iscaused to rotate. Each wing of the member B is provided with a cavityfor receiving the roller B and the action is such that after the rollerhas passed the point of the wing the lockingbolt descends suddenly underthe action of its spring and throws the shaft somewhat beyond ahalf-rotation, carrying the coin away from the coin-engaging edge of themember B thereby permitting the coin to drop from the member B asindicated in Fig. 15. In this position the upper portion of the member Bblocks the entrance to the coin-chute until the member B returns to itsoriginal position which it does when the rack B is depressed by swingingthe letter-chute to the closed position. As appears in Figs. 1 and 9,the portion (Z of the casing-front is provided with atransparently-covered opening, through which the numbers of thecyclometer may be viewed. The cyclometer is conveniently supported on abracket n, attached to a lug a on the inner surface of the casing-front.

As indicated in Fig. 8, the lever D is provided at its lower end with arearwardly-projecting cam 1, which in one position of the lever is inthe path of a cam D at the lower inner corner of the flange a of thedoor A and said lever is provided at its upper portion with arearwardly-projecting cam p, which in the other position of the lever isin the path of the cam D at the rear upper corner of the flange a of themember A. When the door A is opened, therefore, the lever is moved toclose the opening D, and when the letter-chute is swung open indepositing the next letter the lever is moved to uncover saidperforation. The extremity D of the lever may be provided with aconspicuous color, the exhibition of which will indicate that no letterhas been dropped into the box since the last collection. Thecoin-receptacle B, Figs. 3, 4:, and 17, comprises a top (1, dished andslotted to permit the entrance of the coin; a depending stem (1,connected therewith and provided at its lower end with perforations; abracket Q2, having a slot, engaging a stud 9*, projecting inwardly fromthe upper portion of the door A a bottom (1 provided with a perforatelug q; a glass tube Q7, confined between the top and bottom of thereceptacle, and a padlock g connecting the lug q with the lower end ofthe stem (1. This construction permits the receptacle to be removed fromthe door A and replaced by-a similar receptacle.

The rack B is provided with slots 9*, which receive studs 7", carried byrearwardly-projecting lugs Won the inner surface of the easing-front.Thus the rack is capable of mov ing freely in a vertical direction.

From the foregoing detailed description the manner of use will bereadily understood. The improved mail-boxes are to be placed inconvenient localities, and a person desiring to send a letter by specialdelivery takes the same to the nearby mail-box, deposits a dime, opensthe letter-chute by drawing the handle (Z forwardly, and then closes theletter-chute by pressing said handle rearwardly. The coin forms aconnection between the member B* and the member B so that when theletter-chute is swung forwardly, thereby elevating the rack through theaction of the portion (Z* of the cam-slot on the pin d, both the memberB* and the member B are rotated through the medium of the rack. Thislifts the locking-bolt B during the initial movement of theletter-chute, thereby permitting the letter-chute to be moved forwardthe full distance. In this movement the pawl (Z moves freely over theratchet-teeth (Z but serves to prevent a return movement of theletter-chute until its forward traverse is completed. During the finalportion of the forward movement of the letter-chute the pin (Z works inthe portion (Z of the cam-slot without causing further movement of therack B". During this portion of the movement also the arm 9 of the shaft9' engages the cam g", rocks the shaft 9, and thereby swings the arminto engagement with the member A of the letter-chute, thereby closingthe letter-chute at its lower end. During the lastportion of the forwardtraverse the arm simply bears against the member A and holds it in theclosed position. During this final portion of the traverse also the armg engages the stud 7i and raises the slide connected with the frame ofthe printing mechanism, thereby I bringing the pawl it into engagementwith a fresh tooth of the ratchet-wheel H After the introduction of aletter into the letterchute the chute is swung rearwardly, the shaft 9is permitted to turn back to its former position, and the slide itresumes its former position, thereby rotating the printing-wheel. Duringalmost the last portion of the rearward movement the member 70, attachedto the frame of the printing device, passes operatively beneath themember 7:, whereby the frame of the printing mechanism is depressed,throwing the printing-wheel into contact with the letter. Finally thearm is withdrawn from contact with the member A and the latter swings tothe vertical position shown in Fig. 11, allowing the letter to drop intothe box.

WVith desirable frequency the collector goes over his route, opens themail-boxes, takes out the letters, preferably preserving them in theorder in which they are arranged, removes the coin-receptacle andsubstitutes another one, notes the number appearing at the cyclometer ina suitable record-book, and returns to the post-oilice. Thereupon thecoin-receptacle is unlocked, the coins and letters are examined inproper order to see that no bogus coins have been employed, and thereading of the cyclometer is noted to observe whether it correspondswith the letters received at the postofiice. If the collector on hisrounds finds a box where the indicator shows that the letterchute hasnot been opened, he knows at once that it is unnecessary to open themail-box. Should the sender of a letter introduce two letters at once,only one of the letters will receive a number, and consequently only onewould be passed on to its destination by special delivery. The coinreceptacle is of a cross-section corresponding with the coins receivedby it, and consequently it is impossible for the coins to get out oftheorder in which they are introduced. This enables each coin to beidentified with the letter which it served to introduce, so that if abogus coin were to be employed the fraud would be detected. This rendersunnecessary the use of any separate fraud preventive in connection withthe improved machine.

It will be understood, of course, that the printing mechanism may bemade as complex as. may be necessary to give any desired impression uponthe letters. As the printingwheel is shown in the drawings it comprisesa single wheel provided with numbers from 1 to 12 and adjacent to eachnumber with a letter indicating a station or city, as desired.

So far as the coin-receptacle is concerned any suitable expedient may beemployed for preventing disarrangement of the coins, the desired endbeing to keep the coins in order corresponding with the order of theletters, which by reason of the nature of their introduction and thelimited capacity of the letter-receptacle are preserved in proper order.In many other respects the mechanism may be changed as circumstances mayrequire withoutdeparture from our invention. Hence no undue limitationshould be understood from the foregoing detailed description, the samehaving been given for clearness of understanding only.

What we regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In means of the character described, the combination of a suitablereceptacle, a swinging letter-chute provided with ratchet-teeth and witha locking-shoulder, a pawl engaging the ratchet-teeth, a locking-boltfor engaging said locking-shoulder and permitting initial movement ofthe letter-chute, and coin-controlled releasing means including averticallymovable member having cam connection with and actuated by saidletter-chute.

2. In means of the character described, the combination with a suitablecasing, of amovable letter-chute, locking means therefor permittinginitial movement of the letter-chute, and coin-controlled releasingmeans including a vertically-movable rack connected with and actuated bysaid letter-chute during initial movement thereof, a coin-actuatingmember actuated by said rack, and a coin-actuated member actuating thelocking-bolt of said locking means for the purpose set forth.

3. In means of-the character described, the combination with a suitablereceptacle, of a closure device, a vertically-movable-rack actuated bysaid closure device during initial movement thereof, a rotatablecoin-actuating member equipped with a pinion meshing with said rack, arotatable coin-actuated member equipped with a plurality ofcoin-recesses, and a locking-bolt actuated by said last -named memberand permitting initial movement of the closure device.

t In means of the character described, the combination with a suitablereceptacle, of a closure device, a locking device therefor permittinginitial movement of the closure device, a vertically-movable rackactuated by said closure device during initial movement thereof, arotatable coin actuating member equipped with a pinion meshing with saidrack, a rotatable coin-actuated member equipped with a plurality ofcoin-recesses, a lockingbolt, a locking-bolt-actuating member actuatedby said coin-actuated member and equipped with a plurality of cam-arms,and means coacting with said cam-arms and controlling the movements ofsaid cam-actuated member, for the purpose set forth.

MORTIMER B. MILLS. HERBERT S. MILLS. In presence of- WVALTER N. WINBERG,W. B. DAVIES.

